As a community foundation and for 57 years, the annual Blessing of the Destin Fishing Fleet takes place in the Destin harbor on Ascension Day. On this day, local pastors gather to bless charter fishing boats and others who earn their living from the sea, for safe passage and bountiful catches. Today, the Blessing of the Fleet has grown along with the community and its businesses becoming a week-long celebration from Sunday, May 10, through Saturday, May 16. This year, the event celebrates its 12th year.
After years of participation in the original blessing of the fleet, Capt. Mike Parker asked Father Mike Hesse of Immanuel Anglican Church if this “blessing could be expanded to embrace the whole community.” Father Mike heard this as confirmation of a discussion he had recently had with Mel Ponder. The then-City Council member had made the same suggestion, and so the clergyman got the two together. The rest is history. Just as the business in Destin has expanded from the fishing industry into so much more, so has the scope of this traditional one day blessing, now known as Destin’s Week of Blessings.
Destin area churches, civic leaders and businesses will join together to offer a variety of additional faith-focused events over a seven day period under the banner “Destin’s Week of Blessings.” Kicking off the week will be the Blessing of the Families on Sunday, May 10. On Monday, May 11, A Destin city wide day of Prayer and Fasting. On Tuesday, May 12, will be a day of Pastoral Ministry Out in the Community and Pastoral lead team Ministry, and the Blessing of the Marketplace will be on Wednesday, May 13. This Marketplace event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will have lunch provided in the Life Center at the Destin United Methodist Church on Beach Drive.
Then, on Thursday, May 14, Destin’s Week of Blessings will celebrate the 58th Annual "Blessing of the Fleet" taking place at Destin’s Fishing Fleet Marina, – 210 U.S. 98 East. Service will begin at 4 p.m. with a Fish Fry for donation at 5:30 p.m.
“This year, we are very pleased to be continuing our end of week Friday and Saturday events," said Mel Ponder. On Friday, May 15, will be our Youth T-shirt day and Youth Evening Beach Gathering Event/ Our youth are encouraged to go and bless their schools by wearing a T-shirt designed specifically for them to wear. Then, on Saturday, May 16, we are going to close out the “Week of Blessings” with a Celebration Concert at HarborWalk Village on the outdoor stage beginning at 6 p.m.
We encourage all to come out and be part of this special local event. The Week of Blessings preserves Destin’s character as a faith and family-oriented community and is intended to bless and support the Destin community.
For more information about Destin’s Week of Blessings and to pre-register for the Blessing of the Marketplace, please visit online at www.destinblessings.com or find us on Facebook
Come celebrate with us.
